Since there are news reports that Trump started sending American troops into war, it’s probably something worth talking about. Do we really need another, bigger war?
First, think way, waaaay back to… August 21st. (I know: more than a week ago; bear with me.) President Donald Trump’s first prime time speech. Remember the row of flags? Trump decided he’d try to shout over his clear support for Charlottesville white-supremacists by declaring a new, expanded war in Afghanistan.
America started the Afghanistan war 16 years ago under President George W. Bush, who insisted, against all evidence, that it wouldn’t become a quagmire like Vietnam. No sir! Because… I forget.
And so we’ve lived through 16 years of constant war since then, with huge deployments, thousands of American deaths, hundreds of thousands of civilian fatalities, the decimation of a region, and trillions of dollars of lost treasure. And we’re still losing the war. It’s a deeply intricate problem that’s vexed the best minds of both Republican and Democratic administrations for all 16 years.
After carefully reviewing the detailed geopolitical background, including the complex interrelationships between the Afghan central government, the Taliban, the Afghan warlords, Iran, ISIS, and more. President Trump examined all the plans and ideas, looking at the problem and potential solutions from every possible angle. After months of careful review, President Trump announced….
Come on. You know none of that ever happened. Trump snorted dismissively, and promised everyone he had a great, great plan — the greatest plan ever made! — where we’d win the war easily, with no great casualties, and everything would be wonderful.
How? Please. Trump explained that he couldn’t tell us any of the details, because… the secret would be spoiled. Or something. (That part was hazy.)
But, because of Trump, we would ‘win’ the war in Afghanistan! I use scare quotes on “win” because Trump never said what he meant. But we’d do it!
How? Good question.
Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing Al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge.
— President Donald Trump, August 21, 2017
Since that definition of ‘winning’ has already been the goal for… well, forever, you have to wonder how Trump would accomplish what so many better minds failed to achieve. Did Trump nick himself a magic wand last time he visited Disney world?
Almost anyone would approach something this difficult with a little humility. Afghanistan is a knot of misery so entrenched and self-reinforcing, it’s humiliated all the capable and innovative people who tried to unravel it.
But this is Donald Trump, so… naaa. He has no doubts.
There are literally thousands of lives on the line. Endless suffering. In our names, and using American troops.
Good thing Trump never lies, he’s never been wrong, and he always keeps his promises.
General Mattis, on Trump’s orders, has ordered new troop deployments.
